Process of forming metallic packing



May 17,1927.- H RRHODES.

PROCESS OF FORMING METALLIC PACKING Filed Oct. 4. 1924 Patented May 17, 1927.

UNITED .STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

HAMPTON P. RHODES, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO RHODES MASTER PACK- ING COMPANY, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

rnoonss or FORMING METALLIC PACKING.

App1ication filed October 4, 1924. Serial No. 741,777.

My invention relatesto a process of constructing and forming flexible metallic packingfor use in packing stuiiing boxes about moving shafts, rods and the like.

I am convinced that a superior form of metallic packing may be made bythe forming of a. heavy layer of metallic ribbon about a flexible core with or without lubricant included therein. The present method of winding the metallic strips, forming the body of the packing, about the'center is not only expensive but results in a packing easily mutilated and worn in use.

It is an object of my mventiontoevolve. a method of securing the metallic layers about the core in the construction of the type of packing referred to, which will cause said strips to interlock longitudinally of the core without winding. Another object of the invention isto provide for constricting the metallic ribbons or strips about the central core in mutually interlocked condition by a continuous operation.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the apparatus employed in carrying out the invention, the view being of'a more or less schematic nature. 1

Figure 2 is a view partly in side eleva tion and partly in vertical section, illustrating the apparatus more or less schematically and likewise illustrating the manner in which the metallic strips are assembled aboutthe central core.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the finished packing.

Figure 4 18 a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the strips are initially brought together in mutually overlapping Y v V drawn upwardly between the conical formers view illustrating the positions.

Figure 5 isv a similar manner in, whichthe strips are initially distorted and constricted. f

Figure 6 is a similar view illustrating the manner in which the strips are further distorted and constricted.

I contemplate forming a packing composed of a central core 1 of flexible and compressible material such, as rubber, asbestos, flax, and the like formed to extend longitudinally of the packing strip. The strips 2 of metal such as lead, babbitt or the like are arranged longitudinally of the packing and in mutually interlocked relation about the core 1. I may, if desired, mix a suflicient lubrication can suitable lubricant with the ribbon or may have a plurality of cords or threads of fibrous material such as asbestos or flax 3' in which is incorporated a suitable lubricant. I also prefer to place a fabric cover mg 4 about the assembled packing to hold it in shape and protect it. may-be placed thereon by any method now in common use.

In the drawing I have illustrated the means by which the strips of metallic ribbon may be assembled about the central core and compressed in such a manner as to interlock. With special reference to Fig. 2 which is more or less diagrammatic I haveillustrated an outer conical shaped former 6 of metal or other rigid material, which serves the purpose of guiding the strips 2 of metal ribbon.

into position and constrict the same. The. former 6 surrounds and encloses a second former member which is indicated by the numeral 7 and is likewise of conical form, the two formers being concentrically .arranged and being provided at their upper or minor ends respectively withthroats 6" and 7 The formers 6 and 7 are supported in any suitable manner above a' base or platforms. a I

Mounted on said platform em a plurality of brackets 9 each ofwhich has two upright arms supporting a spindle 11 upon which is rotatably mounted a spool to receive the spools 10. These brackets, 9 are mounted upon the platform in anirregular line about the axis of the two formers.v The manner of spacing these, spools and their brackets is shown best in Fig.1. The ar rangement is such that the strips of metal 2 which are wound on said spools may be AI contemplate leading the-central. core 11 of the packing upwardly axially within the conical former 7 so that it will pass vortically upward through the opening 7? at the upper end of said former'7. I further contemplate employing a plurality ofcords or strands 3 of fibrous material and to saturate these strands with some lubricating liquid. These strands are to be spaced uniformly in the body of the packing, as shown in Fig. 3. Vvhere other lubricant in the body of the packing is not provided, it is believed that be included within.

Such covering.

these strands to serve all ordinary purposes.

method and as they never upwardly, being drawn in such direction by pairs of opposite ly positioned rolls l2 and 1 8, they will be drawn together or constricted, the metallic strips being longitudinally distorted and folded medially as they pass through the opening" 6* at the upper end of the former 6, due to the restricted space between the upper ends oi the formers, it being observed that the taper oi the formers is such that the space between the formers is gradually de creased or diminished in the direction of the upper ends of the said formers. As the metallic strips are thus constricted and distorted, they "ill be interlocked with one an-' other substantially in the manner shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, and they will li zcw'i'se' be constricted about the strands 3 The next step in the method consists in compressing" the constricted inblag'e comprising the n'ietaliic st'ri is 2, the strands 2 and tl'iecentral core 1', it being i'uiderstood that the-central core is led upwardly through tlieol'iening 7 in the former 7, as previously stated and that the strips 2,- at the time they are constricted and distorted, will be autom'ati ally assembled about the core, as shown in Figure 3.

ll' a cylindrical packing desired, the periphery of each roll will be se1nicirc1.ilar

, in cross section, but it the packing to be approximately square in. cross section, the peripheries of the rolls will be U shape in cross section. Above the rolls any well ltnownrn'iechanism maybe arranged to term a fabric cover on the packing as is sometimes done with packing material.

In the operation of l ormine the packing, the spools with the strips ot metal ribbon thereon are arranged as described; the ribbon troin each spool being threaded upward- 1y between the liorn'iersfi and 7, to issue from the top of the guide thus formed in approximately cylindrical form. The cord 8 0t wicking will be drawn upwz'lrdly with the other material by the rollers 10between whicl'rthe'metal ribbon is passed. As the strips 2 issue from the upper end of the conical formers between the rolls 12, they are crushed together; about the core 1 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The rollers serve to compress t-hestrips of ribbon into C0111", pact relation, each strip interlock with the t'her' adjacent strips so that they will not readily be torn apart. lVhen thus formed into a compact section of a packing they may be covered about with th fabric covering as previously described;

The advantages of this type of packing lie in the fact that it is very easily flexible in any direction, and is subject to pressure l'rom'any side in use without tending to mutilate the packing. It is more resilient than is packing wherein the stri )S are wound tightly about the center core spirally as is customarily done. It will also be noted that the packing is formed in this manner by one simple process without the necessity of winding back and forth along the central core as isne'cessary in the usual type of wound packing. it is therefore believed that the packing thus formed is not only superior in its action when being used, in

that it is more resilient and coi'npr'essiblefl without injury but also that it is capable of being formed more cheaply and"economically than is the usual type of packing.-

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A method of forming a. flexible packing com )risin feedin core lon i-t udimfll',

simultaneously forming an enevlope for said core by leading a plurality of flexible strips from spaced sources of supply into contact with said core while applying pressure against both the inner and outer surfaces of said envelope asit is being formed to intr'told said strips with eachother and thereby compact and constrict said envelope about said core, and fi'nal'ly' pressing and sha-pii'ig the assei'i'i'blag'e into desired cross SCCtlOli. I

In testimony whereof hereunto a'rliztmy signature this 24 day of September A. D.

HAMPTON P. anonns. 

